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Evaluating Contribution Of The Cellular And Humoral Immune Responses To The Control Of Shedding Of Mycobacterium Avium Spp. Paratuberculosis In Cattle, Vitaly V. Ganusov, Don Klinkenberg, Douwe Bakker, Ad P. Koets

Microbiology Publications and Other Works

Mycobacterium avium spp. paratuberculosis (MAP) causes a persistent infection and chronic inflammation of the gut in ruminants leading to bacterial shedding in feces in many infected animals. Although there are often strong MAP-specific immune responses in infected animals, immunological correlates of protection against progression to disease remain poorly defined. Analysis of cross-sectional data has suggested that the cellular immune response observed early in infection is effective at containing bacterial growth and shedding, in contrast to humoral immune responses. In this study, 20 MAP-infected calves were followed for nearly 5 years during which MAP shedding, antigen-specific cellular (LPT) and humoral (ELISA) …